Issues

Campaign themes

2012

Excerpt: "As a gun owner and member of the NRA, I have done and will do everything I can to ensure that the federal government does not infringe on the right to bear arms. The right to bear arms is not only enjoyed by millions of Americans for recreation, but our Founders recognized that it was critical to include this right as the Second Amendment to our Constitution in order to allow individuals to protect themselves, their families, and properties."

Health Care

Excerpt: "As a health care provider for over twenty-five years and a member of the Doctors Caucus, Dr.Gosar has lead the charge in the House to reform the health care system and put forth free market solutions to increase access and decrease costs to the consumer."

Taxes

Excerpt: "We must work together to restore common sense, no-nonsense values back to Washington before we loose this Republic all together."

Immigration

Excerpt: "The Federal Government has completely failed its constitutional, legal and moral duty to secure our borders. As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations, Dr. Gosar has held the Obama Administration’s feet to the fire over its failures to protect the citizens of Arizona and our country"

Energy

Excerpt: "Energy independence is a must. It is a matter of national security. Arizona is rich with natural resources and has diverse climates that make our state well-equipped for an energy driven economic recovery."

Analysis

Congressional Staff Salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Gosar paid his congressional staff a total of $829,222 in 2011. He ranks 67th on the list of the lowest paid Republican Representative Staff Salaries and he ranks 75th overall of the lowest paid Representative Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Arizona ranks 47th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[8]

Net worth

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Gosar's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $515,003 and $1,449,999. That averages to $982,501, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican Representatives in 2010 of $7,561,133.[9]

Political positions

Percentage voting with party

The website Open Congress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus. According to the website, Gosar votes with the Republican Party 93.6% of the time. This ranks 84th among the 242 Senate Republicans in 2011.[10]